No Excuse – You Are Responsible for Teamwork

The first is, I would love to flip a switch so every living being could see their own talents, their own gifts, and I would love to see them find their “oomph,” a sense of empowerment, to make their unique gifts work for them in life.

I also would like to flip the switch to the “on position” for people who do not see the value of the jobs they do in life.

Flipping a hamburger may not be what you want to do. You may not want to sweep the carpet. You may not want to be a bank teller. You may not want to drive a truck. Regardless of what you are doing right now, with the exception of unethical work, what you do is a valuable part of the puzzle of life.

When you flip that hamburger, do the people you respond to (the customer standing behind the counter, your manager, your co-workers), know that you are making an effort to complete a part of someone’s day?

When you drive that truck, do you realize that your attitude affects 100’s, or even 1000’s on the road?

When you make that bar of soap, are you honest and careful with your ingredients, knowing that someone is trusting you to their skin care? Do you realize that each bar of soap that you make reflects on your entire industry?

Do your job sloppily as a customer service representative and watch how many lives you affect. You affect your own demeanor, the well-being of the company you work for, and you affect the person at the other end of the phone conversation.

Here is how I see our work in life: there is nothing wrong with not liking what we do. We all do a lot of things that we may not 100% enjoy in life. Money is a necessity to keeping the lights on. But, we are very much like ants. Yes, ants. Each ant has a job. One carries a blade of grass. One carries dirt to build the ant hill. Notably, ants do not complain. They may spat occasionally, but they do not stop working to display a single ounce of protest. It is about teamwork. Does an ant need to be told what to do?

In the human work-force I see levels of responsibilities, of course, but I also see each and every service performed as a level part of the big picture. As I write this, I am part of a picture, part of your picture. Part of a business picture. Part of a human picture. We are all on that very same level. We contribute in one way, shape, or form.

And then there is what I call “dropping the ball.” Deliberately, because you see no value in your contributions in life. A person CAN change their role, but until that happens, be responsible for your puzzle piece (your job, your contribution). Protect it to ensure it still fits the puzzle securely until it is handed to someone else. Be responsible for your business (or what you do in life), what you say, how you do it, and, #1, be responsible to the people you come in contact with.

Becky – It appears we are living in a different generation, where it is easier for people that do not like what they are doing to not give it their best. It definitely isn’t a cake walk, but I still believe the simplest of things are level with the most important, and deserve the same focus. Happy Day, fellow ant! – Mary

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